"Red Chamber," a Lumen exploration crew consisting of three members, has become the most famous Lumens exploration team in Thousand Peaks, despite the young age of its members. However, currently, only silence echoes through the bridge of their spaceship.

"..."

Jun, a young runner from the East Ocean, sits with his not-so-long hair twisted around. Pilot Remi is focused only on the front and the instrument panel, while Captain Eda sits quietly without uttering a word.

How did the situation come to this? Jun sighs softly, lost in thought. Eda, in her pursuit of exploring Lumens mines while wandering through Thousand Peaks, had a reason—to find her master. Jun knows it well, and he was ready to risk his life to help her achieve that goal.

However, Eda became blinded by the goal, so close yet so dangerous, almost attempting a suicidal act within the gravitational field of the black hole at 0.3 astronomical units. She wanted to go and die. So, for the first time, Jun strongly opposed Eda's decision. Even Remi, who always had differences with Jun, agreed with Jun's opinion. Fortunately, they were able to change Eda's decision. However, as a result, the atmosphere inside the spaceship only grew heavier, with no sign of returning to normal.

In a fleeting moment, Jun and Remi's gazes meet.

'Do you have any good ideas?'

'I don't know! Think of something!'

'Remi, you've known Eda longer than me. Think of something.'

'This has never happened before. And now... Jun, you might comfort her better than me.'

Despite their constant arguments, Jun and Remi have come to know each other very well. Just by locking eyes, they can convey their intentions to this extent. However, that doesn't mean any sharp solutions will emerge. The silence deepens.

/

"...We've exited the black hole's gravitational field. It's approximately a 7-hour journey to the United Mining border patrol. Now that there are no immediate threats, you can go and rest if you want."

Remi speaks cautiously as she stands up. Her uncomfortable glances at Eda suggest a sense of unease.

"I'll be in my room until we arrive. Call me if anything happens."

Eda says that and leaves the bridge. As she exits, the slump in her shoulders becomes apparent.

Once Eda disappears from view, Remi turns to Jun and says, "Hey, quickly follow her."

"Alright. And what about you?"

"No matter what, I have to stay on the bridge. This is strictly within the United Mining territory."

Nodding, Jun hurries to catch up with Eda. Remi, watching their retreating figures, lets out a sigh.

/

At the moment when Eda's door was about to close, Jun's foot slipped in.

"Eda, just a moment."

Eda, sitting on the bed with her head down, doesn't look up and responds, "Why?"

"Can we talk for a bit?"

"Now?"

"Yeah. It'll only take a moment. Can I come in?"

"Come in."

Jun enters Eda's room. On the left, various plants are decorated on the wall, and on the right, numerous items are scattered around, centered around Eda's bed. Jun notices familiar items – the Vocal adjustment device, Eda's spare uniform, and a route map indicating plant trade routes from Thousand Peaks to other star systems.

"Have a seat here."

Eda pats the space next to her as she speaks. Jun, with somewhat stiff movements, sits on the bed. Perhaps due to tension, he fans himself, feeling a dryness in his throat.

"...Jun."

Before Jun could say anything, Eda spoke up.

"What should I do now?"

"Well, what do you mean?"

"My master was there. I could have gone. But I just came back. I know, that's practically suicidal. But, but... What do I do now? Do I have to keep waiting for Phoenix, not knowing when it'll come back? Until when...?"

Eda's fragile body trembled. As a captain, she had always been a confident person. Even facing an awkward gaze from others knowing she is a witch, she never wavered, always asserting her opinions. Though there were rare moments of vulnerability during critical times, those situations tended to resolve before Jun could do anything. That's why, this time, he wanted to comfort her, to be there for her.

Jun's strong arms enveloped Eda's shoulders. Though hesitant, Eda did not resist. Jun pulled her into an embrace, and then she finally let out a sob.

"...Huuaaah..."

Feeling the tears on her chest, Jun said nothing, providing silent support to Eda.

How much time passed before Eda's trembling subsided. Acting on impulse, Jun spoke.

"Eda, let's go to the East Ocean together."

Eda's head lifted with surprise. Her eyes were puffy from the tears, and her disheveled hair clung to her face. Nevertheless, in Jun's eyes, she looked more beautiful than anyone.

"Until Phoenix returns, I'll take care of you. Also, Remi too. And someday when Phoenix comes back, no matter what happens, I'll go with you. So, let's go together."

Eda was not yet fully composed. The shock of losing her goal for the past six years, the emptiness and pain it brought, and the mess in her head due to shedding too many tears. However, when she heard Jun's words, she understood. She had longed for that more than anyone else.

"...Okay."

/

"So, Bones said he's coming here?"

The Vegabond, bar in Misty Dragon, a well-known pub loved by Thousand Peaks runners. Amidst the runners who always share their adventure stories, three figures appear: Eda, Jun, and Remi, returning unharmed from the Ironwind Border Patrol.

"Yeah, I sent him a message, and he replied saying he would come here. He mentioned that he will buy the drink."

"Huh, wasn't Laurie currently serving the damn United Mining under a 5-year contract? How is he coming here? This place is considered an enemy territory from their perspective."

"Well, I'm curious about that too..."

"Haha, were you curious about that?"

Out of the blue, someone gives Jun a firm tap on the back. Startled, Jun turns around to see Bones, a former pirate with a yellow jacket, grinning.

"Bones!"

"Well, long time no see, noble guy. How are you, Miss Witch and Pilot?"

Exchanging greetings in the middle of the street, just before heading into the bar, Bones pauses and looks at Remi.

"Hmm, what about the pilot... Can you drink?"

"I'm 19!"

/

The stout owner of the tavern met eyes with Bones. After a playful wink, the tavern owner gestured towards a secluded corner inside. Despite being tucked away, the space seemed spacious enough to accommodate four.

"Four bottles of Peaker's starshine, and one of each for the rest. Snacks, too, just the right amount."

Bones wasted no time placing an order even before taking a seat. With Eda at the center, Jun and Remi sat on either side, and Bones took a seat opposite them. Chuckling, the former pirate, as if to dispel curiosity, began to speak.

"Well, I got a little help from the United Mining Chairman. Don't think Lumen Association is the only one infiltrating others' territory, right? United Mining also secretly sends units to try and claim Lumen Association caves.

This time, my unit was suspiciously assigned to a cave nearby. It turned out to be a wild goose chase. I couldn't just return immediately due to the schedule, so I decided to drop by here."

"Uh... isn't that risky?"

Eda asked with a puzzled expression, and Bones responded with a smirk.

"It depends on how you see it. As long as my subordinates keep their mouths shut, no one will know. And, for a noble like you, you know it's not a big deal. Even releasing a runner from the East Ocean wandering around a cave wouldn't cause any trouble; it's just this much. Besides, all the peakers around here are on my side."

"Oh..."

Bones, who elicited laughter from Remi with his admiring words, poured the newly arrived drink into a large glass, smiling as he spoke.

"Still, it wasn't that easy. Some effort is needed even with the information leaks. Huh, it's good to be prepared. Today, at least one person has to go down before it's over."

At first, Eda seemed a bit subdued, but as drinks and food went in, the atmosphere livened up, and she, too, began to talk with a smile. It had been a few hours since the small drinking party started, and various stories were exchanged, heightening the mood.

"Hey, noble. How many caves have you blown up so far? Did I see two? No, was it three?"

"It's four. I blew up another one before coming here."

At Jun's words, Bones playfully tapped his knee and burst into laughter.

"Wow, during the war, a lunatic like you should have been under me. Aren't you an explosives expert?"

"So, what I'm saying is, Jun, he really has no plan!"

"Remi, I've started to understand that recently too."

"What the hell are you talking about? It's not just Jun. You are even worse, Eddie!"

"Remi?"

"I agree with Remi's words."

"Jun, even you...?"

"Hahaha. The three of you really get along well! There's no room for boredom on your ship."

"I always have to break up their fights."

"A mother and two children, huh."

As everyone became tipsy, and their wits began to unravel, Bones, who had been laughing with flushed cheeks, dropped a bombshell statement.

"Ah, right. So when are you two getting married? If you're sending out invitations, include round-trip tickets for interstellar travel. I checked a bit, and the cost of going back and forth from here to the East Ocean is no joke."

For a moment, silence filled the air. Jun and Eda blushed intensely, unable to utter a word. It was Remi who broke the silence with a burst of laughter. However, her tongue got twisted, and her pronunciation became muddled.

"Hey... Oh! Gah, what the f**k are u talk'ng bout!"

"No, our little pilot's tongue is already twisted? Want to try this too?"

As Bones chuckled and started teasing Remi, Jun and Eda looked at each other. They exchanged glances, forgetting the surroundings, and unknowingly, their lips drew closer.

In fact, this wasn't their first kiss. During their journey in Thousand Peaks, there was a moment in Jun's room when they were sitting on the bed and talking, and Eda's laptop slipped from her lap.

"So, if we analyze this, the flow of Lumen... Oops!"

"Be careful!"

With a thud, they both fell over as they moved, and due to the entanglement of their bodies, Jun ended up lying on the floor, with Eda's face against his neck and her body draped over his.

"..."

Though they should have gotten up, their bodies wouldn't move. Eda lifted her head slightly, and their eyes met.

In that moment, their vision was filled with each other. The laptop was long forgotten. The dim room melted away, transforming into pink ropes that bound them together. In this state, neither of them could move.

Jun thought, truly beautiful. Even after thousands and millions of years, with bodies decomposed, and souls turned to stardust, he knew he would never forget her.

Eda thought, she wants him. She never wants to part with him. Even if they were to be born again dozens or hundreds of times, she wants to be with him for eternity.

There was no need for either of them to say who initiated it. Their lips met, breaths mingling. As if forgetting how to breathe, they became deeply immersed in their kiss, a peculiar emotion flowing as if it wouldn't matter if their breaths were taken away.

The stillness of the kiss didn't last long. Eda's arm slipped into Jun's coat, and Jun's hand wrapped around her, gripping her clothing. In that moment when they were about to remove the awkward barriers between them, the intercom bell chimed.

Eda and Jun snapped out of their trance, and the annoying bell continued ringing. Eda reached out to check, and it was Remi.

"Um. Jun, Remi is calling. I should go see her."

"Yeah, yeah. you should go."

Although they failed to progress further during their first kiss, Eda and Jun continued sharing secret intimacies, little by little, like getting slightly wet in a drizzle.

The two reminisced about that moment and gradually grew closer to each other. Just before their lips met, a thud from the side caught their attention. Remi was sprawled over the table, apparently asleep from the continuous intake of alcohol by Bones. Seeing that Bones had also reached his limit, he wiped his mouth and put down the glass.

"Shall we wrap it up here? I'll take care of the bill, so don't worry."

"Oh, if that's the case, I'll..."

"Hehe, consider it a gift from me. You should thank the adult and accept it."

After settling the bill, the group left Vegabond. Bones shook hands with Jun and Eda in turn. Remi, still asleep, was being carried by Jun.

"Yeah, noble lad. Are you heading back to the East Ocean? Taking your whole party with you?"

"Yeah, I'll be returning to my clan."

"...I don't have a reason to wander around Lumen caves anymore."

"You'll do well. Revive your clan and make it the best it can be. And,"

Bones approached Jun and spoke in a hushed tone, making sure Eda couldn't hear.

"I saw everything just now. It's like honey dripping from your eyes. When you go back to your hometown, make sure to hold onto her if you think she's the one. So you won't regret it later."

"W-Well..."

Bones chuckled and patted Jun's shoulder.

"That's life advice from your senior. You pompous noble. Well then, till next time! Take care, Miss witch. And tell that sleeping pilot to drink in moderation next time!"

After Bones staggered away, leaving Jun standing there in a daze, Eda asked him, "What did Bones say?"

"Well... um. I'll tell you later."

Jun carried Remi to the Red Chamber, laid her down in the cabin, and came out for some fresh air on the deck. When he emerged, Eda, who had arrived earlier, caught his eye.

"Can I sit next to you?"

With a face slightly flushed from alcohol, Eda gestured to the seat beside her with a nonchalant hand. Jun sat down beside her, and under the influence of the alcohol, they began sharing the untold stories while gazing beyond the deck into the cosmic expanse.

"...about Banshee, I apologize for being so stubborn. Insisting on a distance of 0.3 astronomical units within the gravitational field of a black hole is unreasonable. I guess I was just too eager."

"No, I was too harsh too. I know how desperately you searched for your master."

Brushing away a flyer carried by the wind, Jun continued, "Even if we go to the East Ocean together, let's visit Thousand Peaks often."

"Aren't you going to be really busy once you return? Will you have time for that?"

"I'll have to make time if it is about you. As I said, I promised to go with you, no matter what happens when the Phoenix returns. Whenever I visit Thousand Peaks, we'll also investigate the Lumen cave. And let's go together when Phoenix returns, with enough fuel this time."

"...Thanks. It seems like I'm talking too much about myself. There's someone named Zhen from your clan who sent us an email, right? He shares the same last name with you. Is he your brother? Who is he?"

"Oh, Zhen is... my sixth brother."

"Sixth brother? You have a lot of siblings."

Jun smiled as he watched Eda tilt her head. Wondering where to start explaining, he continued, "Clan master, well, my father... for political reasons, he had several concubines. My mother was from a peasant and she caught the attention of the clan master while he was inspecting nearby, so she became a concubine. That's how I was born as the eighth son."

"Oh... I'm sorry."

"You don't need to apologize. Anyway, Zhen was the nicest among my siblings. He subtly took care of me. My other brothers were either indifferent to each other, which was fortunate, or in severe cases, they were sworn enemies. Trying to kill each other was a daily occurrence."

"Good lumen..."

"One of the reasons our clan fell was due to power games. Of course, I made things worse by answering the emperor and losing the cave. I lost my honor."

"But still... now you can regain your honor, right? You can become the clan master, offer the cave's ownership to the emperor, and revive the clan, as you said."

"Yeah, that's right. I just need to go back. The other brothers who sent assassins, probably the third and fifth brothers. Anyway, those brothers were sentenced to life imprisonment for their crimes of harming their brothers and the heir. Their faction was excluded from the Lee Clan's central power. Before having a drink with Bones earlier, I received another email from Zhen. He said that if I return with the ownership of the lumen cave, I'll have the full support of the clan. No one will be able to oppose me."

"That's good... It worked out."

Then Jun fell silent for a moment. Now, it's time for Eda's story.

"And, Eda, you... Do you know that Oceaners dislike witches? Just like in Thousand Peaks. You know it, right?"

"Yeah. No need to bring that up again. It's the same for Peakers. You thought I might be scared off because of that?"

"No, that's not it... Eda, even though you are a witch, you are in a special position in the Lee Clan as a savior, and since I'll be bringing you myself, people won't say anything to your face. I'll make sure of that. However, to be emotionally accepted, to be recognized as a member, it will take time. It won't be easy, but still, will you come with me?"

"...Yeah. Jun, you're right. It won't be easy. Still, I'll go. Why not? There might be Lumen plants in the East Ocean too, right? I've heard that closed environments tend to have unique species. I want to see that, and maybe I can lend a hand in reviving the Lee Clan somehow."

To this, Jun shook his head and said, "I don't really care about that. I just want to be with you. That's why I suggested we go together."

As he spoke, Jun placed his hand on top of Eda's hand. Eda blushed but couldn't help but smile.

"What's this..."

Eda was genuinely happy. After all, her feelings matched his.

After reminiscing for a while, Eda and Jun continued to share memories. As the night grew late, just before Eda was about to collapse from exhaustion, she suddenly remembered something and asked Jun.

"But... now that I think about it... Jun, what did... Bones say earlier?"

"Oh, um... that..."

Tap.

Suddenly feeling a weight on his shoulder, Jun turned his head. Seeing Eda with her head leaning on his shoulder as if she had just remembered, Jun chuckled and took off his outer garment, draping it over Eda. He then lifted her and gently laid her on the bed in the cabin. Finally, he returned to his room to get some rest for the next day.